A New GOP Leader Looks To Restore `Party of Ideas'

IN this age of blow-dried, homogenous politicians, Haley Barbour sounds like a throwback to the regional political bosses of old. The burly new chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) makes no attempt to hide his roots. The Southern-speak rolls off his tongue like water down the Mississippi: "Ah tohld someone...." "Ah believe...."

The accent can be a little misleading. Mr. Barbour left his native Mississippi long ago and established a reputation as one of the leading lawyer-lobbyists in Washington. Both his understanding of the world beyond the capital and his inside-the-beltway savvy will come in handy as Barbour undertakes the daunting task of moving the RNC in a different direction.

Barbour, who won a heated leadership race in January, sees his task as twofold. First he wants to redirect the party's resources from Washington into grass-roots organizing at the state level. "There's a lot more to be gained from outside Washington," he asserts, "in the development and articulation of the Republican message." As part of that strategy, Barbour has been traveling around the country recently to meet with local Republican officials.

He also aims to revive policy task forces made up of former administration officials and "think-tank types."

The key issues Barbour believes the GOP should emphasize are economic - principally the party's opposition to President Clinton's "government-growth package."

Mr. Clinton, he says, "has given us an economic package that reminds people why they're Republicans."

On social issues, Barbour warns, the party must tread warily. Although he is personally opposed to abortion, the new chairman doesn't want the GOP to alienate pro-choice voters.

"We have to be careful people don't confuse principles with intolerance," he says. "We're a broad, mainstream, and diverse party, and we can't give people the impression that if you don't agree with Haley Barbour on everything you're not welcome."

Barbour is confident that, despite their often-noisy public spats, the differences between liberal Republicans like Gov. William Weld (R) of Massachusetts and hard-core conservatives like columnist Patrick Buchanan can be bridged.

"Bill Weld and Pat Buchanan agree on more than they disagree," he asserts. "My job is to emphasize the great principles that unite us: peace through strength, tough on crime, individual responsibility and freedom, small government."